There is never a dull moment during "One Hundred and One...

There is never a dull moment during ``One Hundred and One Dalmatians,``

presented in an original adaptation by Lifeline Theatre KidSeries. With five actors playing 12 parts, the play moves briskly along.

Thanks to the Walt Disney animated film, the tale is a familiar one and many children in the audience came prepared. Some clutched their own toy Dalmatians and one little girl even wore white tights with black spots.

The story follows the adventures of Pongo and Missis, two Dalmatians whose comfortable life in London is disrupted when their puppies are kidnapped. The dogs` search to retrieve their children leads them to the home of Cruella DeVil, who has ominous fashion plans that call for Dalmatian fur.

The air fairly prickles with evil energy when Cruella, played by Alexandra Billings, appears.

Kristie Berger and J. David Blazevich, as Missis and Pongo, occasionally resort to barking, but it really isn`t necessary. They are sufficiently canine-like, dressed simply in black-spotted white vests, without having to remind us. The Dalmatian puppies are simply small stuffed animals.

Although the play is funny and fast-paced, the story whizzes by so fast that it is hard to connect with the characters and there is no time left to add some substance and capture the emotions that family separations and reunions evoke.

`ONE HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS`

A Lifeline Theatre KidSeries production of an adpatation of Dodie Smith`s book written by Meryl Friedman and directed by Dorothy Milne. Saturdays and Sundays 1 p.m. (special performances at 1 and 3 p.m. Dec. 29 to 31) through Feb. 7 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Recommended for ages 5 to 10. Length of performance: 50 minutes. Tickets are $5 in advance, pay-what-you-can at the door on day of performance. Phone: 312-4477.